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Objective: This paper provides a descriptive statistical overview of Mental Health Review Tribunal outcomes from 1992 to 2011.Method: A database used by administrators of the Mental Health Review Tribunal to store information on applicants and their hearing outcomes was subjected to basic descriptive analysis.Results: A total of 3117 applications were received, with most applications received from males (n=2039, 65%) of New Zealand European ethnicity and a mean age of 49 years. A similar number of applications were received from inpatient and community patients (35%, 28% respectively). There was only a small percentage (7%) of applicants who were released and the number of applications withdrawn before a hearing took place was high, at 45%.Conclusion: The success rates of New Zealand Mental Health Review Tribunal applicants is low compared with some international jurisdictions, while at the same time withdrawals are high, warranting further investigation. Applicants in the community are underrepresented, which is of concern in the context of rising use of community treatment orders. Future research focused on service users' experiences of using the Mental Health Review Tribunal and improvements to the existing data stored on applicants are also suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Community treatment orders (CTOs) have been used in New Zealand since 1992 and are now used in most Commonwealth countries. There is little research on the rate of use of CTOs in New Zealand. This study compares the prevalence of CTO use across New Zealand's 20 health districts and makes comparisons with international prevalence rates.Methods: New Zealand Ministry of Health reports provided data on rates of CTO use in New Zealand between 2005 and 2011. International rates were obtained from published reports and academic literature on CTO use.Results: Rates of CTO use in New Zealand show marked and persistent regional variation over the period of data collection. National average rates increased from 58 per 100,000 in 2005 to 84 per 100,000 in 2011. Rates of use of CTOs are increasing internationally. New Zealand's CTO use is high by international comparisons.Conclusions: New Zealand's high and increasing rate of CTO use by international standards raises questions about the delivery and functioning of mental health services, and about mental health service users' experience of mental health care. The high rate of CTO use needs to be addressed as a human rights issue as well as a clinical issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]